Illuminated giraffe family made for JUMP’s Illumibrate festival, March 6, 2020, Boise, Idaho. They are life size, reaching up to 16 feet. They were lit from the inside using LED lights sequenced to be controlled by a digital theremin that members of the audience could operate. Surrounding them were several foam trees fabricated by JUMP and also lighted and controlled by the theremin.

This was a collaboration with the JUMP team and several other volunteers. Special thanks to JUMP team members Maggie Soderberg (administration, approval, financing), Jesse Cordtz (coordination, technical support), Amanda Fitch (head sculpture), and Mark Freckleton (wiring). Also a big thanks to Ross Butler and his team for lighting, sequencing, programming, etc.

This project was a rush with little more than 2 months from conception to completion. I never liked how spindly the legs on the big giraffes came out, but with the time constraints and the fact that most of the body work had to be completed before it could be lifted up onto the legs, this was the best that could be managed. I’m working with the JUMP staff to rebuild the legs (particularly the thigh areas) to give them more bulk, as well as redesigning the knees, and adding in feet, which we didn’t have time for.

Though more time would’ve been appreciated, we were lucky: if the event was a week or two later, it likely would’ve been shut down by the growing pandemic.